Sodium, in moderation, is an important part of your diet. It is an electrolyte and is important for maintaining homeostasis in the body, allowing many body functions to operate smoothly and stably. It also helps to balance water and minerals and control muscle movement. If we don’t get enough sodium, we crave it. Sodium also contains no calories. Therefore, sodium looks like a good additive to foods and adds flavor to the diet.
However, too much sodium can have adverse effects. One of these effects can increase the risk of heart disease. If you are at risk of heart disease or have heart disease, it is important to monitor your sodium intake.According to a new study published in Lancet journal, Reducing sodium intake can prevent fluid overload and adverse consequences in patients with heart failure..
In this study, researchers obtained information from an international open-label randomized controlled trial, also known as SODIUM-HF. The study enrolled patients over the age of 18 in 26 locations in 6 countries. These eligible patients suffered from chronic heart failure and were treated according to optimally acceptable guidelines. This is the most preferred dose of drug or treatment that does not cause unacceptable side effects. Patients were randomly assigned to either conventional treatment according to local guidelines or a low sodium diet of less than 100 mmol (mmol) per day.
Next, researchers designed a dietary study to test whether reducing dietary sodium reduces the incidence of future clinical events. They assigned 806 patients to a low-sodium diet between March 24, 2014 and December 9, 2020. Cardiovascular-related hospitalizations occurred 2% less in patients on a low-sodium diet compared to patients in the regular care group...
According to the Cleveland Clinic Limit dietary sodium Helps minimize the amount of excess water in the heart, lungs and feet.. The extra water in your body makes your heart work harder. This will potentially raise your blood pressure.
How can I limit my sodium intake?
To reduce sodium intake, the Cleveland Clinic suggests trying these methods that may help manage and / or treat heart failure.
- Eat high-fiber foods that help you maintain or achieve a healthy weight.
- Use fresh ingredients with little or no salt.
- If you don’t have fresh vegetables, use low-salt frozen or canned vegetables, or rinse the vegetables before cooking. The same is true for fruits.
- Replace and / or remove certain sodium-rich ingredients in your favorite recipes.
- Avoid foods that have a long shelf life, are resistant to spoilage, and are easy to stock.
- Check nutrition labeling and look for foods that contain less than 600 milligrams of sodium.
- Avoid items such as canned, hardened, or smoked meat or deli meat.
How do I know if I am experiencing heart failure?
Symptoms of heart failure include shortness of breath, malaise, and swollen veins in the legs, ankles, legs, abdomen, and neck. Risks of heart failure include leading to the most common types of heart disease, coronary artery disease (CAD) and heart attack. Other problems include diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and valvular heart disease.
If you have any of these problems, it may be time to reduce your sodium intake or consult your doctor. For more information on sodium, see What Happens to Your Body If You Eat Too Much Salt.
Kayla Garitano
Kayla Garritano is Eat This, Not That! I’m a staff writer. She graduated from Hofstra University with a major in journalism and two minors in marketing and creative writing.read more